Holiday alters artwalk to Second Friday event

First Friday Artwalk will be July 11, but Fast Food Junkies still play Saturday

The Fast Food Junkies, rockers from McPherson who play bluegrass instruments, will bring their unique sound to downtown Topeka for an 8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 5 concert on the outdoor stage in the 100 block of S.W. Jackson.

The Fast Food Junkies, rockers from McPherson who play bluegrass instruments, will bring their unique sound to downtown Topeka for an 8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 5 concert on the outdoor stage in the 100 block of S.W. Jackson.

It isn’t quite as momentous as Christmas in July, but the day of the week of Independence Day 2014 has forced some adjustments to this month’s First Friday Artwalk events.

Because the Mulvane Art Museum, the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library’s Alice C. Sabatini Gallery and most of the participating private galleries, studios and businesses that usually participate will be closed Friday in observance of the Fourth of July, this month’s self-guided tour of the community’s art spaces is postponed to July 11, the second Friday of the month.

ARTSConnect Topeka, which coordinates the First Friday Artwalk, will gather and publish details of this special Second Friday Artwalk next week. Check www.artsconnecttopeka.org later to see which venues will be open from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 11 for viewing of art, socializing and entertainment.

One First Friday Artwalk event won’t be delayed by a week. Downtown Topeka Inc.’s First Friday Concert Series will take place one day later.

The Fast Food Junkies, a trio from McPherson, will perform a free show at 8:30 p.m. on an outdoor stage in the 100 block of S.W. Jackson.

Formed in 2004, the Fast Food Junkies are rockers who use a bluegrass instruments — banjo, acoustic guitar and standup bass — to create a unique sound, which they describe this way:

“If metal got drunk one night and slept with bluegrass, their bastard child would be Fast Food Junkies. FFJ gives an electric live show full of raw energy! Lightning fast banjo rolls and unduplicated hillbilly hollers give Fast Food Junkies a totally original sound that has yet to disappoint.”